November 13, 2016

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 6 comments

National Mild Surprise Week carried on into the weekend and visited the nation's #2, 3, and 4 college football teams.

I got to watch part of the Pittsburgh-Clemson game and the first half had that feel of a blow-for-blow barn burner, but I didn't think Pitt would be able to hang in there with Clemson for the entire 4 quarters. I thought Clemson would eventually, inevitably, pull away. Wrong again. Wish I had gotten to see the whole game.

The Clemson D is skilled and athletic, and Pitt QB Peterman patiently stood in, waited for routes to develop, and delivered quality throws knowing that he was about to get hammered. It was remarkable what he was able to accomplish with such tight windows of time and space in the pocket.

posted by beaverboard at 09:44 AM on November 13, 2016

Herman Edwards should be begging to coach the Rams, proven winners of "nuthin' but field goals" wars of attrition. They should start running Dean Smith's Four Corners offense just to make things interesting.

posted by beaverboard at 06:29 PM on November 13, 2016

As a USC alum I quite enjoyed watching the Trojans deal with the Huskies. Darnold is turning into a smart, well put together QB and if he can grow over the next couple of seasons we may get back into the national title hunt.

posted by billsaysthis at 10:50 AM on November 14, 2016

After this weekend, there's at least a chance that we're in the national title hunt. A pair of 4-6 rivalry games won't help any, but if Colorado stumbles, a 10-3 undefeated-since-new-quarterback-installed Pac-12 champion might be as compelling as a 2-loss champion of some other conference.

posted by Etrigan at 03:04 PM on November 14, 2016

Thinking of the Pac-12, the thing that gets my attention is - who put the gunpowder in Washington State's Gatorade? It seems like they suddenly woke up and became a force to be reckoned with.

Would Chip Kelly really want to return to this conference once he bails on pro ball?

posted by beaverboard at 04:58 PM on November 14, 2016

The Ducks seem like they could use him, Beaverboard.

posted by billsaysthis at 10:40 AM on November 15, 2016

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